The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-01-29
NOT BEING AFRAID TO TAKE
THE CONSEQUENCES,
Oppose The Fanaticism in q Manly
Way, Giving Good Reasons
for IL.
SPEECHES OF THE PLUCKY
MEMPHIANS.
Their Earnest Appeals to Their Eel.
low Senator's TO Vote Accord
ing to Their COnsciences.



NAsHvILLE, TENN, January 2S.-
Senaie.-Mr. Leech-Mr. Speaker, !
move that the action of the Senate day
before yesterday in postponing consid-
Grafton of Senate joint resolution No.
II till Saturday, be reconsidered, in
order that we may consider it now,
for the momentous question will re-
qure two days in which to discuss it.
may as well say what j have got to
cay now. l do not oppose this meas
ure, but come of the Senators here are
in favor of 1t, but their hearts are not
in it. l am pledged to vote, and am
going to do it. l am handcuffsd, but
! don't propose to get on another one
like it. Laughter.
Mr.. Lynn favored taking up the
pr)hibitory amendment.
Mr.. Leech's motion prevailed and
the resolution was taken up.
MT Lynn took the floor and pro-
ceeded to define his position. He said
he was no longer young man. He
had lived in Tennessee twenty eight
years. In all his life he had tried to
be honest and sincere, aud as a free
man he had ever to regulate his con.
duct to four virtues-prudence, forti-
tude, temperance and justice. He
came now to discuss this question
Of the proposed change in the
organic law of the State
Under the impress of these virtues he
would first read three dispatches
which he had received from infuen-
tial cijizens of Memphis. He would
decline to give names, but would say
the gentlemen signing them were Of
the highest character. The first held
one half million of taxable values,
once represented his people in this
very chamber, and was called to pre-
side over the destiny of the city of
Memphis. The dispatch read:
We strongly approve your National De-
mocracy and your stand as to sumptuary
laws and State finances.
The second dlsp itch is from a law
yer Of eminence, and reads:
/ congratulate you on your manly fight
for National Democracy and the business
interests Of our State.
The third dispatch is from Repub-
lican partisan, and reads:
congratulate you on the stand you have
taken on the submission question, and
as a Republican stand by you both Lynn
and Montedonicol.
Mr.. Lynn read from the bill of
rights and called special attention to
the oath which members of the Gen
eral Assembly are required to sub.
scribe. He also read the last clause
OF the last Democratic platform in re-
lation to submission, and called upon
Mr.. French (Rspublcsn) to know if
that clause was not the same as the
one in the Repub ican State platform.
Mr.. French-It is the same that is
in Mr.. Houk's platform.
Mr.. Lynn called upon the Senators
to answer how they could, under their
oaths, do this thing against their con-
science, reason and judgment. He
thought this oath should not be vio-
lated. II would be bad example to
set to the large number of Office.
holders in the State.
Mr.. LynL-Did the amendment pass
its first and second reading this session
on call of tle yeas and nays?
Mr.. Harris-Yes, cir; the yeas and
nays were called for on each reading.
Mr.. Lynn said the amendment was
one thing and submission another.
The present question is not submis.
sion, but is the amendment He
would vote for submission because he
would bs in honor bound to do 80, for
the passage of the amendment re-
quires members to do 30. Say
what members will, they are
called upon to vote for prohibition.
Would their osths and conscience
permit them to do SOP No preacher,
nor good woman either, asks man to
break his oath. When the yeas and
nays are called for on the pssssge of
the amendment Senators would vote
for prohibition or against it. If SEN
ator is for prohibition let him vote for
it, but If he is against IT in the name
Of God let him vote that way. "It ye
vow vow ye shall keep it." "Vo'e
the right as God gives you to see it."
He dared to say that the amendment
had not had fair consideration at the
hands of the people of Tennessee.
Senators know it and the people
know it,"
Mr.. Lynn called attention to the fo-
raj Ship of State on the Speakers
desk, a gift from the ladies', on which
is inscribed "God, home and native
land" and an inscription from Paul.
he said he liked Paul; he was a great
preacher, aud while he had said what
was on the ship, he had also said to
Timothy, his son, "Drink no longer
water, but use a little wine, for thy
stoma chs sake and for thine often in
firmities." Mr.. Lynn closed in q
beautiful tribute to woman, a though
they seemed to bs against him in his
position on the prohibition question.
Mr.. Nor tedonico said:
The question presented under the pro-
visions Of our constitution to each and every
posed amendment, whic means prohibition
in the state OF Tenness o? Hence it has be-
come my duty as Senator representing my
constituents TO thrust aside all passion and
prejudice and to bring to sn eXaminat' on of
this subject such calm reason as the capacity
of my nature affords. Harsh and painful
words may be hurled at me by some who in
their noble eagerness to elevate humanity
have permitted their zeal to dethrone cold
logic and dispassionate reason. To these
people L say | admire your purpose; l re-
spect you for tie sympathetic chord which
responds from your hearts TO the suffering. of
humanity. But, gentlemen, ! must say that
facts aud reason, as they come to me, cause
our paths to diverge. In q word, fransl
avow that am oppUsed 10 prohibition. For
the position l thus take l shall eandidly
and unressryedly give you my reasons.
First, an oppo ed to prohibition. because
: be majority OF the people who have sent me
here TO represent them are ag inst II. /
am opposed to it because prohibition has
been tried and found wanting. You may
PLACE upon your statute books the
most stringent laws thpt can be evolved
from the minds of legislators. Yet you viii